Acupuncture: The Best Way to Alleviate Tight Musculature

Did you ever wake up to a tight or stiff neck? You feel around and notice a huge knot, you then try to rub and massage the area with little to no relief. Or maybe you are very active or work out on a regular basis and notice certain areas of your body are sore.

If you are seeking relief for tight and sore muscles- acupuncture is the way to go! Acupuncture is a powerful and effective therapy that helps to release trigger points in various muscles of the body.

TRIGGER POINT DRY NEEDLING

Trigger point dry needling is the use of an acupuncture needle inserted through the skin and into the belly of the muscle to release painful myofascial trigger points. The needle gently stimulates the muscle to respond with a quick light twitch response. The result is decreased pain and better range of motion in the targeted muscle.

DOES IT HURT?

No, dry needling is not painful. For many patients they notice some soreness after the release. However, the relief is pretty significant!

WHAT AREAS CAN BE TREATED

Pretty much any muscle in the body! Some common areas I see in my practice over the years is the upper back and trapezius muscle, piriformis muscle, gluteus muscles, and muscle surrounding the iliotibial band.

If you're curious about a specific area of your body, that has been ailing you, don't hesitate to schedule a free consultation.

Acupuncture for Postpartum Recovery

I wish I could say I took care of myself properly during the postpartum period, but I didn't. At least not the way I would have liked to. My daughter is 18 months old and I still feel in some ways I am recovering from childbirth. 

While some women have heard of the benefits of acupuncture to prepare for pregnancy and during pregnancy, I wanted to share some awesome ways acupuncture can help you recover after childbirth.

Body Aches

Giving birth is a big deal. Medicated or non medicated your entire body just gave way to another human!  In the days after birth your muscles are sore and healing. Acupuncture can help alleviate muscle tension and pain. 

Constipation

It is common to experience constipation after child birth. A study involving people with chronic and frequent constipation revealed after an eight week course of treatment participants an increase in bowel movements each week.

Fatigue

During an acupuncture session people tend to drift off to sleep or experience a deep sense of relaxation. After the treatment its common to leave rested and energized. All mothers can agree that after childbirth a little rest goes a long way. 

Stress, Anxiety, & Depression

In a 2013 article in the Journal of Endocrinology, a study showed acupuncture treatments regulated hormone levels responsible for the fight or flight response. Often times new patients are nervous about the thought of the needles. But after an initial session patients quickly come to look forward to the relaxation, calm, and relief of an acupuncture session.

Breastfeeding

The experience of a sudden or gradual dip in your milk supply can be stressful. Acupuncture and acupressure can help to stimulate milk volume in mothers who breastfeed. Several studies have shown specific acupuncture points stimulated increased milk supply.

If you would like to learn more about how acupuncture can assist in your postpartum recovery schedule a free consultation!

MIND + BODY + ACUPUNCTURE

I've always struggled with self neglect for some greater (so I tell myself) cause with the intention of getting back on track as soon as this ends or as soon as that happens. Then the list keeps going and going and going, until finally I'm all the way burned out and now what I thought I had together has manifested into emotional and physical symptoms. For me that usually means mid to upper back pain and I become irritated or fatigued. Each time I end up here it's a little different, but my body sends out signals like a flare to take care of myself.

Our bodies are fascinating vessels designed to alert us of danger or imbalance by way of symptoms. Prolonged periods of stress, anxiety, or a traumatic experience can manifest in various physical symptoms; upper back pain, low back pain, fatigue, or dizziness to name a few.

Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy recognizes the strong connection between the mind and body. Everything is connected and treated as such. The goal is to keep a rhythm of harmony, like a free flowing stream. The Acupuncture points act as the gateway to regulate disharmony and dysfunction in the body. Acupuncture is a perfect way to not only treat the body, but reset the mind due to its great ability to help you relax.

During treatments individuals usually fall asleep, experience relaxation, or report a feeling of increased energy. Studies show that acupuncture decreases inflammation in the body and releases the body's own natural opioids. 

But Doesn't it Hurt?

The most common question I receive from potential patients is "Does it hurt?" Understandably so, we're talking about needles. If you have a fear of needles its easy to think about acupuncture and automatically associate it with pain. However, acupuncture needles are extremely thin and are practically painless. In Fact, patients usually don't notice when the needle is inserted. The experience is exactly opposite of what you would expect. Patients tend to drift off to sleep and usually wake up refreshed and relaxed. Overall the experience turns out to be so good many patients tell me they were looking forward to their appointment all day and even all week.